General Education

0833. Race & Poverty in the Americas (3 s.h.) RCI: GD.

The transatlantic slave trade was one of the most brutal and momentous experiences in human history. Attitudes toward Latino, Caribbean, African, and Asian immigrants in the United States today can only be fully understood in the contexts of slavery and the “structural racism,” “symbolic violence” (not to mention outright physical violence), and social inequalities that slavery has spawned throughout the region. Although focusing primarily on the United States, we will also study the present entanglements of poverty and race in Brazil, Haiti, and other selected nations of “The New World,” placing the U.S. (and Philadelphia in particular) experience in this historical context.

Note: This course fulfills the Race & Diversity (GD) requirement for students under GenEd and Studies in Race (RS) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: ANTHRO 0833, LAS 0933, REL 0833/0933, or SOC 0833.

0854. War in Hazleton (3 s.h.) RCI: GG.

The United States border with Mexico is 2,000 miles long, stretching from San Diego, CA to Brownsville, TX. Every year between 200,000 and 400,000 immigrants attempt to cross this border illegally. An estimated 12 million undocumented aliens live in the United States already. Does this influx of Mexicans, Central Americans and South Americans amount to a serious threat? Though close study of how one small, quiet Pennsylvania town reacted to a sudden influx of 10,000 Spanish-speaking laborers, and with the aid of film, field-trips, guest speakers, fiction and poetry, we will explore global immigration issues.

Note: This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under the Core.

0868. World Society in Literature & Film (3 s.h.) RCI: GG.

(Formerly: GE-WRLD 0060.)

Learn about a particular national culture—Russian, Indian, French, Japanese, Italian, for example, each focused upon in separate sections of this course—by taking a guided tour of its literature and film. You don’t need to speak Russian, Hindu, French or Japanese to take one of these exciting courses, and you will gain the fresh, subtle understanding that comes from integrating across different forms of human expression. Some of the issues that will be illuminated by looking at culture through the lens of literature and film: Family structures and how they are changing, national self-perceptions, pivotal moments in history, economic issues, social change and diversity.

Note: This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under the Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: Arabic 0868/0968, ASIA ST 0868, Chinese 0868/0968, English 0868/0968, French 0868/0968, German 0868/0968, Hebrew 0868, Italian 0868/0968, Japanese 0868/0968, LAS 0968, Russian 0868/0968, or Spanish 0868/0968.

General Education Honors

0933. Honors Race & Poverty in the Americas (3 s.h.) RCI: GD.

The transatlantic slave trade was one of the most brutal and momentous experiences in human history. Attitudes toward Latino, Caribbean, African, and Asian immigrants in the United States today can only be fully understood in the contexts of slavery and the “structural racism,” “symbolic violence” (not to mention outright physical violence), and social inequalities that slavery has spawned throughout the region. Although focusing primarily on the United States, we will also study the present entanglements of poverty and race in Brazil, Haiti, and other selected nations of “The New World,” placing the U.S. (and Philadelphia in particular) experience in this historical context. (This is an Honors course.)

Note: This course fulfills the Race & Diversity (GD) requirement for students under GenEd and Studies in Race (RS) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: ANTHRO 0833, LAS 0833, REL 0833/0933, or SOC 0833.

0968. Honors World Society in Literature & Film (3 s.h.) RCI: GG.

Learn about a particular national culture—Russian, Indian, French, Japanese, Italian, for example, each focused upon in separate sections of this course—by taking a guided tour of its literature and film. You don’t need to speak Russian, Hindu, French or Japanese to take one of these exciting courses, and you will gain the fresh, subtle understanding that comes from integrating across different forms of human expression. Some of the issues that will be illuminated by looking at culture through the lens of literature and film: Family structures and how they are changing, national self-perceptions, pivotal moments in history, economic issues, social change and diversity. (This is an Honors course.)

Note: This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under Core.

Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: Arabic 0868/0968, ASIA ST 0868, Chinese 0868/0968, English 0868/0968, French 0868/0968, German 0868/0968, Hebrew 0868, Italian 0868/0968, Japanese 0868/0968, LAS 0868, Russian 0868/0968, or Spanish 0868/0968.

Lower Division Courses

1001. Perspectives on Latin America (3 s.h.) F S. RCI: IS.

(Formerly: LAS C050.)

Interdisciplinary examination of social change in Latin American societies. Provides historical context and includes changing approaches to economic development, class and ethnic issues, religious traditions, art, music, and literature.

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core International Studies (IS) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information. In addition to meeting the university Core International Studies requirement, this course meets the Non-Western/Third World IS requirement for Communication Sciences majors. Please note the recent update to the Core IS requirement at www.temple.edu/vpus/documents/Core_IS_UpdateFinal.pdf.

1022. Latin American Social Struggles (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with History 1022 (0122).

An examination of Latin America’s contemporary history from the Cuban Revolution in 1959 through the end of the Cold War to the present. The course explores such matters as revolution and counter-revolution; human rights and institutional accountability; city life and social change; the movement of people, narcotics, goods; and new forms of political and cultural conflict. Methods of instruction include paperback readings, the internet, and video clips.

1051. Che Guevara and the Question of Revolution (3 s.h.) S.

Cross Listed with History 1051 (0054).

Between the coming to power of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and the early 1990s, Latin America found itself convulsed by revolution and counter-revolution. For many around the world, Che Guevara symbolized heroic revolutionary struggle. Through the prism of Che’s life and image, this course will examine Latin America’s conflicts during this era and discuss the urgent issues that still remain from the question of revolution.

Upper Division Courses

2010. Topics in Latin American Studies I (3 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: LAS 0140.)

Course topics vary each semester and may include the media in Latin America, Latin American music, race and ethnicity, and social movements.

Note: Students can obtain a description of the current version at the Latin American Studies Center.

2020. Topics in Latino Studies (3 s.h.) F S.

(Formerly: LAS 0138.)

Course topics vary and may include the study of Latino migration to the United States, Latino communities in the United States, and Latino political and cultural movements.

Note: Students can obtain a description of the current version at the Latin American Studies Center.

2030. Topics in Caribbean Studies (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: LAS 0139.)

Course topics vary each semester and may include the history of Puerto Rico, the history of the Hispanic Caribbean, culture and music of the Caribbean.

Note: Students can obtain a description of the current version at the Latin American Studies Center.

2072. Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: LAS 0148.)

Cross Listed with American Studies 2072 (0148).

This course looks at the migration of Puerto Ricans to the United States in the 20th century, a group that is the second largest Hispanic group in the country. It examines the specific community of Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia and its relationship with other racial and ethnic groups and the social, political, and economic situation of Puerto Ricans in the city.

2097. Writing Seminar I (3 s.h.) F S. RCI: WI.

Course topics vary each semester and may include the media in Latin America, Latin American music, race and ethnicity, and social movements.

Note: Students can obtain a description of the current version at the Latin American Studies Center.

Economic and political change; role of institutional forces including the military and church. Cultural and intellectual traditions and trends, past and present. Multi-media approach.

Note: Given in Spanish as part of the LASS program.

2169. Archaeology of South America (3 s.h.) F.

Cross Listed with ANTHRO 2169 (0169).

A survey of prehistoric cultures of South America. Concentrates on (1) the initial entry and spread of human populations into South America and the West Indies, (2) origins of tropical and highland agriculture, (3) the rise of urbanism, civilization, and the state in the Andes, and (4) the impact of prehistoric cultures on the environment.

Mode: Lecture/Seminar.

2173. Ancient Mesoamerica (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with Anthropology 2173.

Ancient Mesoamerica is a general survey of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico and Middle America before the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire in A.D. 1521. In this course we will examine the long history of Mesoamerica beginning with the first peopling of the Americas at least 15,000 years ago and ending with the Spanish Conquest and the creation of “Latin America”.

2220. Special Topics - LASS Seminar (2 s.h.)

Arranged each semester. Please consult with the instructor and/or check the course schedule for specific topic.

2231. Democracy in Latin America (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: LAS 0130.)

Cross Listed with Political Science 2231 (0218).

An examination of the structure and culture of Latin American democracies organized around three major themes: (1) a discussion of theories of democracy; (2) the formation and development of democratic institutions in Latin America; and (3) the political culture of Latin American democracy. Uses a social problems approach to look at two controversial Latin American issues since the late 1960’s: the tension between adopting a procedural vs. a substantive definition of democracy, and the emphasis on political vs. socioeconomic factors in explaining democratization.

2232. Politics of Development in Latin America (3 s.h.)

(Formerly: LAS 0129.)

An examination of Latin America’s struggle for economic development. Emphasis on the relationships that have prevailed over the last few decades between developmental theories and the everyday lives of Latin American peoples. Discussion of the political and ideological questions involved in Latin American development. Exploration of how Latin American developmental issues affect the United States through matters such as job relocations and trade pacts.

2361. Peoples of Latin America (3 s.h.) S.

Cross Listed with Anthropology 2361 (0261).

Starting in 1492, Native American isolation from Europe and Africa ended in the region of the Americas that became Latin America. Despite five hundred years of colonial and nation-state domination, indigenous peoples in Latin America continue to assert their basic human right to resist cultural hegemony. Not only have indigenous populations survived, they are also growing. Today they constitute a majority in Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru and a substantial plurality in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. The focus here is on this remarkable struggle for physical and cultural survival. Attention will be given to the lived experiences of people struggling for human dignity on the lowest strata of regional class structures. Issues of land rights, environmental, health, political, and economic self-determination will be examined.

Mode: Seminar.

2362. Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with Anthropology 2362.

Shaped by conquest and colonial transnational desires, first of sugar and then of tourism, the Caribbean has been wrought since its very inception by the displacement of people, goods and ideas from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, presenting a challenge for the anthropological study of socio-cultural change through time and space. In this introductory course on the Caribbean we will critically examine “creolization” processes at social, religious, political, economic, and artistic levels as they were driven by various groups, from pirates, privateers, maroons, exiles, to tourists, in the context of colonialism, nation building, and globalization. Examining specific sites such as music, display events, folklore, and religion we will ponder about, for instance, the effects of European revolutions on the creation of elites in the Caribbean, and the impact of slave cultures and peasantries on the formation of creole religions. How has the image of the sensuous/threatening mulatta evolved since the plantation? On what kind of histories and emotions do “zombies” feed upon? Why did Reggae and Merenge succeed on the global stage? How does the display of national icons in Trinidadian carnival reflect on their socio-political conflicts? How is the colonial past re-packaged for global consumption? Format: Seminar with short lectures, class presentations, video screenings and class discussions.

Mode: Seminar.

2502. Fundamentals of Latin American Business (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with IBA 2502 (0101).

This course is designed to give students a solid basis to face a job assignment related to business in a Latin American country and to develop your ability to perceive the importance of cultural diversity and how it influences business activities across Latin American countries. Specifically, this course will help you understand the specific challenges of doing business in Latin America and enable you to perceive and understand the differences in the business environment, business customs, and business practices between countries of Latin America and of the rest of the world.

Overview of Latin American history from a social change/social problems perspective. Some of the historical themes addressed include: social inequality and unequal exchange, cultural domination and resistance, racial minorities and indigenism, the role of women in Latin American societies, political imposition and democracy, and national independence.

2515. Civilization and Modernity in the Caribbean (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with History 2515 (0227).

This course surveys post-Emancipation Caribbean history, regarding it as a complex process dominated by notions of “civilizing” and “modernizing.” We will address the significance of both terms, exploring what they have meant for the diverse peoples inhabiting the region. What did civilizing mean for the labor practices and religious expressions of free blacks and indentured Indians in the late 19th century? What did modernizing mean for concepts of peoplehood, cultural production and representation in the 20th century? Who have been the primary agents of “civility” and “modernity”? And how have others responded to - resisted, embraced, negotiated - their efforts and ambitions? In answering these questions, we will turn to a range of disciplines including history, anthropology, literature and political science.

3010. Topics in Latin American Studies II (3 s.h.) F.

(Formerly: LAS 0141.)

Course topics vary each semester and may include the media in Latin America, Latin American music, race and ethnicity, and social movements.

Note: Students can obtain a description of the current version at the Latin American Studies Center.

3020. Topics in Latino Studies (3 s.h.) F S. RCI: RS.

(Formerly: LAS R138.)

Course topics vary and may include the study of Latino migration to the United States, Latino communities in the United States, and Latino political and cultural movements.

Note: (1) Students can obtain a description of the current version at the Latin American Studies Center. (2) This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Studies in Race (RS) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information.

3101. Latino Identity in the U.S. (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with American Studies 3101.

Latino Identity in the U.S. is a general survey of the cultural-historical experiences of Latinos in the United States from pre-colonization to the present with concentration on the time period of the civil rights movement to the present. The course will explore the impact of Latinos in U.S. cultural-history and artistic expressions, across all disciplines; specifically on how this impact has reflected itself in the development of Latino identity formation and how Latinos fit within race/ethnic/gender cultural politics in the United States.

3201. California Dreams, California Nightmares (3 s.h.) RCI: RS.

Cross Listed with History 3201.

Over the century and a half since California was forcibly incorporated into the United States, it has exercised a powerful role upon the imagination and reality of every generation. California has been, at once, the golden gate of opportunity and the grapes of wrath of the downtrodden; social mobility and the policy of incarceration, the glamour of Hollywood and monotony of tract housing, the high-tech of Silicon Valley and the high-sweat of agricultural labor, the Eden of natural bounty and the ecological disaster of sprawl and smog. This course concentrates on the historical role that categories of race have played in defining by whose means, to whose benefit, and in whose image California’s wealth would be produced and consumed. As an intermediate-level history course, this course offers a mix of primary and secondary sources, emphasizes the interaction of multiple causal factors, and encourages students to interpret and to write analytical historical arguments. In addition to discussion, lecture, and common readings, methods of instruction in the course include use of a computer-assisted classroom to provide image and text projections, video clips, and internet linkages.

Note: This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Studies in Race (RS) requirement. Although it may be usable towards graduation as a major requirement or university elective, it cannot be used to satisfy any of the university GenEd requirements. See your advisor for further information.

3561. History of Brazil (3 s.h.) S.

(Formerly: LAS 0302.)

Cross Listed with History 3561 (0225).

Modern and contemporary Brazilian themes including democracy, globalization, and nationalism, cultural and ideological dissent, and popular social movements. Course materials include Brazilian writings, documents, and films.

Note: Course title prior to fall 2009: Contemporary Brazilian Scene.

3563. Puerto Rican History (3 s.h.)

Cross Listed with History 3563 (0226).

This course explores particular issues related to the political, economic, and social development of Puerto Rico with special emphasis given to the 19th and 20th centuries. The course will not only address historical paragons but also questions of interpretations. In each class a combination of readings, discussion, lectures, and videos will be used to view the various issues in a comprehensive manner.

3601. “Other Voices” in Latin American Literature (3 s.h.)

This course looks at race, color, and gender in Latin American creative literature. The literature explores key cultural dimensions of the Latin American society and psyche. Focus is on the presence of Afro-Latinos, the role of Indigenous peoples, and feminist perspectives in the different Latin American societies.

3602. Caribbean Literature and Culture (3 s.h.)

The Caribbean is an immensely rich, virtually untapped cultural matrix for most North American students. This confluence of many old world cultures really is the brave new world, home of four Nobel laureates and a vast multi-lingual literature that runs in deep currents through our own national psyche. This course will focus on Caribbean artists and social movements that have had a major impact on modern culture, especially in the United States.

3702. African Religions and New World Culture (3 s.h.) S.

Cross Listed with Religion 3702 (0158).

African religion and culture continues to exist in the religious and cultural life of African Americans. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we will examine African American religion, folklore, literature, music, and communication in order to assess the continuation and transformation of African culture in the world-view of African Americans.

3801. African Culture in Brazil (3 s.h.)

This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the cultural history of Africans and their descendents in Brazil. Particular attention will be paid to the northeastern state of Bahia - the earliest and most important point of entry for Africans transported to Brazil during the Atlantic slave trade. Special focus will be paid to Bantu-Kongo culture of West Central Africa and to the Yoruba and Fon cultures of Western Africa transferred to Brazil from the late 16th through the 19th centuries.

Independent research on a specific topic related to Latin America. This course will enable undergraduate students the option of taking an independent study through the Latin American Studies Center.

4097. Latin American Studies Seminar (3 s.h.) F S SS. RCI: WI.

(Formerly: LAS W315.)

This course serves as the capstone for the Latin American Studies major. Students write a substantial research paper (20-25 pages) dealing with the general theme selected for the semester. This course is open to non-LAS majors with permission of the Director of Latin American Studies. Should be taken in the fall of the senior year.

Note: Fulfills the Capstone writing course requirement for the Latin American Studies major.
Special Authorization required for all students.
Mode: Seminar.

4698. Revolutionary Mexico (3 s.h.) RCI: WI.

Cross Listed with History 4698 (W345).

Early in the twentieth century, Mexico experienced a powerful upheaval that left its imprint upon the country for generations, bringing to the fore questions of constitutionalism, land tenure, worker rights, indigenous culture, and national sovereignty. The Mexican Revolution restructured society, the state, and the country’s relationship with the United States and the world. Revolutionary Mexico examines the classic years of the Revolution, 1910-1940, engaging students in primary document research and in examination of the historical controversies that the Revolution has engendered. Instruction takes place through discussion, lecture, film, reading, and computer projection.